Poznan Off The Beaten Path Tips by HORSCHECK Top 5 Page for this destination

Trip to Gniezno

On Easter Sunday we took a half day trip by train to Gniezno, which lies about 50 km east of Poznan.

Geniezno was the first capital of Poland and is nowadays home to about 70.000 inhabitants.

The city is dominated by its Gothic Cathedral (Archikatedra Gnieznienska), where Poland's first five kings were crowned.

Apart from the cathedral, Gniezno has a picturesque market square and several other churches.

Directions:
There are frequent train services between Poznan and Gniezno. Depending on the type of train a 2nd class single ticket costs between 10 and 14 Zloty.Tickets can be bought directly at both Poznan's and Gniezno's train station. The journey takes between 40 and 60 minutes.

Website: http://www.gniezno.home.pl/

Sidetrip to Srodka

Srodka is an old district of Poznan, which was an independent town until 1800.

The name was derived from the weekly town market which took place on Wednesdays (Sroda = Wednesday).

Nowadays the district seems to be a bit negelected, but it has its own charm.

Around the central Market Square you can find the Kino Malta and the St. Margaret's Church, which was built in the 15th century.

Srodka lies to the east of the Cathedral Island (Ostrow Tumski).

Former Jewish cemetery

An early 19th century Jewish cemetery used to be located in the place where nowadays the Trade Fair grounds can be found. It was totally destoyed by the Nazis, who used the tombstones to pave roads.

Since 2008 the existence of the cemetery is commemorated by a memorial plaque at the entrance to a courtyard in the street ul. Glogowska 26a.

The courtyard was also the resting place of Poznan's Rabbi Akiva Eiger. New tombstones have been erected in the vicinity of the graves.

Polish Underground State and Home Army Monument

The Polish Underground State and Home Army Monument was unveiled on the 26th September 2007, about 68 years after the founding of the Polish Underground State.

The bronze and steel monument was designed by the Polish artist Mariusz Kulpa.

The monument mainly consists of a symbolic house and 6 eagles flying out of it, representing the destroyed houses of WWII as well as Poland's fight for independence.

Directions:
The Polish Underground State and Home Army Monument is can be found in the Wieniawski Park, which is situated west of the city centre, somewhere behind the Grand Theatre.